Noy ally Drilon to head Senate

MANILA, Philippines - With three years remaining in his administration, President Aquino can now rely on a long-time ally as Senate chief.

Sen. Franklin Drilon held key positions including executive secretary during the term of the late president Corazon Aquino.

Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada will be leading the opening of the regular session of the 16th Congress today at the Senate, which will declare vacancy in all positions at the Senate.

“All seats are vacant since it’s a new Congress. One of them will stand up to nominate maybe Senator Drilon and from the minority, Senator (Juan Ponce) Enrile,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he expects a smooth flow of transition of the Senate leadership today.

He recognized that “it is very clear” that Enrile and his allies will be members of the new Senate minority. The new bloc will include him, Enrile and Senators Gregorio Honasan, Vicente Sotto III, Juan Victor Ejercito and Nancy Binay.

After the Senate president is elected, Estrada explained the new Senate leader would take his oath before the youngest member of the Senate, neophyte Sen. Paulo Benigno “Bam” Aquino.

“Then the election (of new officers) will proceed,” Estrada said.

He added Enrile would become the minority leader since he will lose to Drilon who has garnered as many as 16 votes, now comprising the new majority.

Estrada confirmed Sen. Ralph Recto would be replacing him as Senate president pro-tempore while Sen. Alan Cayetano, the former minority leader, will be the new majority leader.

“I believe they can very well face the responsibilities. Both Senators Recto and Cayetano can do the tasks,” he said.

As part of the new minority bloc, Estrada expressed hope their team will not be deprived of their offices’ budget and allocation of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). “We should get even budget allocations. I think, the new leadership will not also be limiting us in terms of committee assignments,” he said.

Estrada said the minority group has not decided whether they will push through with a plan not to accept committees from the incoming leadership.

He said there are plans to seek an all-senators’ caucus so the senators can discuss the committees, and those that can be given to the minority bloc.

Enrile, for his part, said he will be attending today’s opening of the 16th Congress and hear the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“I want to know what’s the President’s program,” Enrile, with wife Christina, told reporters during an interview after attending the concert of Dionne Warwick at the Manila Hotel late Saturday.

Enrile, who is eyeing the minority leader post, said he also wants to know how effective the coordination would be between the executive and legislative departments.

“Good luck!” Enrile remarked when told that Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief Manuel Mamba vowed better coordination between Malacañang and Congress under the leadership of Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Sen. Loren Legarda, on the other hand, expressed optimism that President Aquino will mention in his SONA a defined roadmap to address the effects of climate change and a clear path towards inclusive growth.

“President Aquino’s administration has already made headway in building a strong economy and we await more of his programs to ensure that these gains will be felt by every Filipino,” Legarda said.

Legarda noted significant improvement in areas covering basic needs and rights such as education, healthcare, protection of workers’ rights, disaster preparedness, among others.

Legarda said even US President Barack Obama has acknowledged the threats that climate change brings and will continue to bring if not addressed immediately.

“President Obama made it clear that he is determined to save the future of Americans by taking that needed push to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and increase investments on renewable energy,” Legarda said.